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However, once a transfer window move to Spanish side Leganes fell through, it was a different story.

His form dipped and he started just three of the final 13 league fixtures of 2018.

On New Year’s Day it was revealed that Braithwaite was joining Leganes for the remainder of the season.

No doubt he wants to make a permanent move away from Teesside in the summer but with two years remaining on a four year contract, Boro won’t want to take a financial hit on their best paid player.

And, following his latest public statement, they won’t be minded to do him any favours either.

Martin Braithwaite in action for Leganes

He said: “I’m not coming back to Middlesbrough, I can’t imagine that.

“The project I was presented with at Middlesbrough changed completely when Pulis arrived.

“He has a strange way to play football. The team plays defensively with long balls. It’s really kick and rush. It doesn’t look so good to me.

“It’s the reason I didn’t play much at Middlesbrough but I never complained. I worked hard and tried to maintain the good mood every day in (training).

“No matter how negative things look, it’s about working hard and being positive, because suddenly you get a second chance, an option where things can change quickly.

“That chance I got with Leganes, where I’ve thrived, but I also know that something new is probably waiting in the summer.”

Pulis was asked about those quotes in his press conference.

He said: “As a manager I think you’ve got to accept that you are going to get criticism from players, whether it’s myself or Garry Monk.

“This football club spent an absolute fortune getting Braithwaite to this football club and on two occasions when I was here - not Garry, myself - he actually went to the press and said one thing he doesn’t want to do is leave this football club, he wants to be with the football club and help us get promoted.

Martin Braithwaite

“If he wants to give me criticism you have to accept that as a manager but Steve Gibson, the chairman of this football club, has given him an absolute fortune. He is the highest-earning Championship player I have ever worked with.

“When I was at West Bromwich Albion in the Premiership, I don’t think there was many players earning as much as what Braithwaite is earning.

“The disrespect he’s shown the area and the football club is astonishing for someone who has taken so much out of this football club and given so (little) back. For him to talk the way he’s talked, it’s really disappointing.

“I’ve been in football a long time, you come across these players now and then and you have to deal with it.

“But, specifically, for a person who’s on two occasions to come out and say he’s got his heart and soul in this football club and within 36 hours he’s then going in and seeing the chief executive and asking him to leave...

“I’ve been in the game too long, it doesn’t upset me in respect of people throwing stones. My great thing is the football club. I think Steve Gibson - honestly, the contract that Steve has given him, he’s made the lad a multi-millionaire and for the lad not to show any respect to Steve, who’s the owner of the football club who’s desperate to back his manager at the time - obviously Garry brought him in - and Steve just gave the kid almost everything that he wanted and it just shows total, total lack of respect. Not to me, the manager, but the owner, his money. The supporters, they pay money to come and watch those players so sometimes they need to think before they speak. It’s regrettable that he’s even mentioned it, I’d keep my head down and just get on with life in Spain where he is.”

Middlesbrough manager Tony Pulis and Martin Braithwaite

Wow. No one can accuse Pulis of ducking a tough question!

Whatever one thinks about Braithwaite’s behaviour, it’s hard to see how the situation plays out in the long-term.

It certainly looks like the 27-year-old has burned his bridges on Teesside. It’s pretty much impossible to see him playing another game under Pulis.

And even if the manager leaves at the end of the season, Steve Gibson won’t be happy about him playing for Middlesbrough after his latest outburst.

Promotion would at least give Boro some financial wriggle-room in terms of taking a financial hit on Braithwaite in order to move him on.

But where will the player find the kind of salary he enjoys in England?

Bordeaux presumably baulked at matching his current Boro deal when they looked at signing him permanently last season.

And Braithwaite hints that Leganes may not be a long-term port of call.

The player’s lack of Championship consistency when he has played in England means it’s hard to see a Premier League club showing an interest and his financial demands rules out most if not all second tier sides.

Martin Braithwaite

Braithwaite’s comments have made a difficult situation even worse. None of the parties will be happy about such an awkward state of affairs.

Is there a solution?

An apology from the player might be a start but that’s hardly likely.

Mediation or counselling to repair the relationship also looks a long shot.

As things stand, Braithwaite’s situation is another issue to be resolved in what’s looking like an incredibly important summer as the club looks to introduce a more cash-conscious recruitment model.